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Publisher’s Corner

Collecting Natural History
Publisher
rowing up in New York City, one of my favorite natural history museum. There Maxine Carter-Lome
places to visit on cold and rainy days when you were few books or resources maxine@journalofantiques.com
Gcould not play in the Park was the American available on taxidermy during the Business Manager
Museum of Natural History. From the fossils to the time so Peale mostly taught himself Jeffrey Lome
dioramas of wildlife from around the world staged in their how to skin and stuff animals for Maxine Carter-Lome jeffrey@journalofantiques.com
natural environment, I could (and did) sit there for hours display. Because Peale was foremost Managing Editor
mesmerized by the dinosaurs, stuffed mammals, and the an artist, he began making elaborate displays for the taxi- Judy Gonyeau
many other collections on display. dermy he created. The collection grew and soon was editorial@journalofantiques.com
The founding of the Museum realized the dream of moved to Independence Hall, where the Declaration of
naturalist Dr. Albert S. Bickmore. Bickmore, a one-time Independence was signed. Unfortunately, Peale struggled Contributing Writer
student of zoologist Louis Agassiz, who lobbied tirelessly financially and he had to sell his collections, including a Erica P. Lome, Ph.D.
for years for the establishment of a natural history lot to P.T. Barnum, who went on to add these items to Sales Representatives
museum in New York. His proposal, backed by such his “oddities” museum. Pat Rainka
powerful sponsors as Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. (father to In 1846, President James K. Polk signed into law journalofantiques@gmail.com
our 26th President), J.P. Morgan, William Blodgett (also the act to organize the Smithsonian Institution as Judy Gonyeau
a founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and a “an establishment for the increase and diffusion of editorial@journalofantiques.com
number of other high-profile industrialists of their day, knowledge” and American identity. The United States Art Director
won the support of the Governor of New York, John National Museum was founded in 1846 as part of the Lynn Cotterman
Thompson Hoffman, who signed a bill officially creating Smithsonian Institution. The museum, initially housed ads@journalofantiques.com
the American Museum of Natural History on April 6, in the Smithsonian Institution Building (better known Production
1869. The original Museum building opened its doors today as the Smithsonian Castle), opened its first formal Jill Montague
to the public in 1887 but public interest in its growing exhibit hall in 1858.
collections quickly prompted the need for its expansion, The Natural History Building (as the National Administrative Assistant
the first round of which was completed by the end of the Museum of Natural History was originally known) of the Susan French
19th century. Smithsonian opened its doors to the public on March 17, info@journalofantiques.com
Like other natural history museums cropping up in 1910, in order to provide the Smithsonian Institution 508-347-1960
big cities across the country, public interest, museum with more space for collections and research. The
expansion, and funding each hinged on what the Smithsonian’s natural history collections have their Toll free:
American Museum of Natural History could bring back origins in the 1838–1842 United States Exploring 888-698-0734
to the City of New York and put on display. Expedition, which circumnavigated the globe amassing
One of the most popular ways at the time for natural cultural and natural history collections. To outfit its Fax: 508-347-0911
history museums to build their reputations and new museum dedicated to natural history display and Mailing:
collections was to fund an expedition to someplace new scientific study, the Smithsonian went on an aggressive P. O. Box 950
and remote. Expeditions of the 19th and early 20th acquisition spree, outfitting, sponsoring or finding Sturbridge, MA 01566
centuries often brought together self-taught naturalists, funding for numerous expeditions over the next several E-mail:
taxidermists, scientists, adventurists, nature photo- decades that brought unique physical specimens back info@journalofantiques.com
graphers, and hobbyist collectors who traveled the world from the field that could be cataloged, studied, preserved,
to parts unknown to bring back everything from small and displayed in the country’s national interest. What the UPS and FedEx
and large mammals to flora and fauna, birds, insects, and Smithsonian did not take found its way to other natural Shipping Address:
marine life to museums. One of the most famous of these history museums around the country. 46 Hall Road
Naturalist collectors was Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. His The Smithsonian’s embrace of natural history lent Sturbridge, MA 01566

safari to East Africa and expedition down the Amazon scientific legitimacy to what had once been the work of Journal of
brought to American natural history museums thousands self-taught observationalists, naturalists, and hobbyists. Antiques and Collectibles
of samples of specimens and species not seen outside of While not trained scientists, these 19th and early 20th is published monthly,
their natural habitat. You can learn more about century nature collectors, many of whom did their 12 times per year, by
Roosevelt, the Naturalist, on page XX. own fieldwork and mastered the art of preserving their Weathervane Enterprises, Inc.
Many of the Naturalists of Roosevelt’s generation specimens for study, are credited with introducing 46 Hall Road
were inspired by the works of such pioneers in the fields generations to the discoveries of the natural world Sturbridge MA 01566.
of the natural sciences as John James Audobon (1785- through their collections. Periodicals postage paid at
1851), Charles Darwin (1809-1882), Alfred Russel Sturbridge MA.
Wallace (1823-1913), Henry David Thoreau (1817-
1892), William Stimpson (1832-1872), Spencer POSTMASTER:
Fullerton Baird (1823-1887), and Louis Agassiz (1807- Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher Send address changes to
1873). These men, as well as countless other avid nature The Journal of Antiques
collectors and observationalists of everything from and Collectibles
insects and butterflies to birds and mammals, inspired a Coming Next Month … ISSN: (1539-5618)
generation of Naturalists who can be credited with P.O. Box 950
the popularity and scientific study of living things as a Needle & Thread Sturbridge, MA 01566
natural science.
One of the earliest natural history museums in Issue Ad Deadline Mailing Date The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
reserves the right to reject any advertising that
America was put together by Charles Wilson Peale. Peale August July 8 July 17 does not comply with our standards. The
had served with George Washington at Trenton, New September August 5 August 14 Journal will not be liable for any errors or
omissions but will print a correction in the
Jersey. After the revolution, he opened a gallery where he October September 2 September 11 following issue if notification of such error is
sent by the appropriate deadline. Original
displayed and sold portraits of famous revolutionaries. November October 7 October 16 manuscripts are welcomed by qualified
He began to add natural history artifacts to his displays writers. We assume no responsibility for loss
of unsolicited material.
and soon decided to devote his attention to creating a
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